Protective Bubble Cover for Finger Nails

ABSTRACT

The invention is a protective nail cover for use after nail polish application. The nail cover is one piece flexible rubber that has a “squeeze to open” mechanism. It is made of a flexible but firm rubber material that can be applied over each fingertip, extending to the first joint to cover the nail without touching the nail. It will have holes for ventilation around the bulb portion. This bubble nail cover can be squeezed gently at the sides to open. The cover will gently close over the finger and may be lined with some sponge like material to make it more comfortable. The whole purpose of this cover is to protect freshly applied nail polish and allow it to dry.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (IF ANY)

None

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a nail cover that is one piece flexible rubber that has a “squeeze to open” mechanism.

2. Description of Prior Art

For many women, and some men, a manicure is considered a part of a regular hygiene program. For some this includes the application of lotions, creams, and polishes.

An inherent problem in manicures is waiting for polish to dry. Often a proper manicure can take between 4 and 6 coats of nail polish. The total drying time can be over 20 minutes, and the person with damp nails must restrict their activities until their nails are completely dry. It is difficult to read, drive, or sleep with wet painted fingernails, and they are very likely to chip or smudge the paint if they partake in any activity.

On the market are foam finger dividers to help manicurists keep the fingernails from touching each other during the manicure. Essentially these are small thin pads of foam that have protrusions to fit in between each of the fingers to separate the fingers. The foam finger dividers are unlike the present invention because they have no protective covers for the wet nail, the user must continue to not use their fingers during the drying stage, and they do not totally inhibit the fingernails from touching each other while wet.

There are also manicure station pads that user may set their hands flat upon, while they are receiving their manicure. Unlike the present invention, these stations do not protect the nails while drying, are not intended to be worn, do not inhibit the fingernails from touching each other, and the user must refrain from utilizing their fingernails while wet.

Many manicurists use small fans to speed up the drying process. These fans are unlike the present invention because they do not keep the nails from touching each other, the users cannot use their nails during drying and they provide no protective cover for the drying nails.

Therefore a need has been established for a protective cover for fingernails while drying polish.

There is still room for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention involves a protective nail cover for use after nail polish application.

The nail cover is one piece flexible rubber that has a “squeeze to open” mechanism. It is made of a flexible but firm rubber material that can be applied over each fingertip, extending to the first joint to cover the nail without touching the nail. It will have holes for ventilation around the bulb portion. This bubble nail cover can be squeezed gently at the sides to open. The cover will gently close over the finger and may be lined with some sponge like material to make it more comfortable. The whole purpose of this cover is to protect freshly applied nail polish and allow it to dry.

The nail cover is more efficient, effective, accurate and functional than the current art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the current invention being placed on a fingertip;

FIG. 2 shows the nail cover;

FIG. 3 shows the nail cover being opened; and

FIG. 4 shows the cover on all the fingers of a hand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

There are a number of significant design features and improvements incorporated within the invention.

The present invention is a bubble nail cover 1 which is a protective closing cover for fingernails 10 that fits around the fingertip and nail 10 of the user to protect the nail 10 from damage after painting with finger nail polish. The bubble nail covers 1 fits in a secure fastened manner around the fingertip and up the finger from nail cuticle as shown in FIG. 1. The user's finger is inserted into an opening 15 at the bottom of bubble nail cover 1 and the opening 15 is closed around the finger and may be lined with some sponge like foam rubber type material 17 to make it more comfortable. The opening 15 would have a diaphragm 40 in the preferred embodiment for opening and closing giving the nail cover 1 a “squeeze to open” mechanism and functionality.

The bubble nail cover 1 has a soft snug closure around the finger tip 10 above the nail bed as shown in FIG. 2. It has a bubble enclosure comprised of a dome 30 that completely surrounds the finger tip 10 without any part of the finger tip touching the device 1.

The top of the bubble nail covers 1 has air holes 20 punctured in the topside to allow air to ventilate around the nail 10. This insures the proper drying of the nail polish.

The protective closing cover 1 allows the user to paint their nails 10 and then go onto other tasks such as driving, using the phone, sleep or carry out other daily activities without damaging their nails. In this manner a user may have a manicure apply the ten bubble nail covers and continue with other tasks.

The protective closing covers 1 will snap close around the finger after the first knuckle using snap close technology.

The wet nail 10 is protected by the dome 30 with air holes 20 punctured so the nails may easily dry while the nails are not damaged. When the fingernails 10 are dry the user may detach the bubble nail cover 1 and store for the next use.

The present invention allows users freedom of movement for their hands while nail polish is drying. In the preferred embodiment it is manufactured as one piece that will fit around the fingertip below the first knuckle and cover the nail 10 of the user without touching the nail or chipping the polish. The bubble nail covers 10 are reusable, and are easily applied and removed. There will also be some foam padding around the opening so as not to constrict the blood flow and make it feel more comfortable for the users.

In the preferred embodiment there will be two larger bubble nails in each set for the thumbs, and eight smaller ones for each of the fingers. Since each user's hand will have fingers of differing diameters the bubble nail covers will have 3 sizes, large for the thumbs, medium for the 3 middle fingers and a small one for the pinky. The air holes 10 are placed all around the bubble nail cover device 1. The user may blow air through the air holes or if they choose to move their hands in a rapid, shaking fashion to help nails dry the air will easily circulate around the nail via these air holes.

The user can wear the bubble nails 10 while they are putting on clothes, or going about their daily activities. The nail polish will dry due to natural movement of their hands and air circulating through the air holes.

As shown in FIG. 3, to apply the current invention the user would use their thumb and index fingers to squeeze the edges of the bubble nail cover 1 to pop open the diaphragm 40. This activity can be done even if the fingers already have bubble covers on them as it requires minimal pressure and a small area of the fingers in order to operate. FIG. 4 shows the cover 1 covering the finger nails 10 of all five fingers in a hand.

The nail cover 1 would be made of a solid piece flexible rubber in the preferred embodiment. In additional embodiments of the present invention, one side of the bubble nail cover can be fitted with a gripping substance 50 to allow the user to grip small or slick objects with ease while wearing the bubble nails cover 1.

The gripping substance can be supplied with the bubble nail set as double sided tape with the outside facing side made of some sticky material or can even be a gripping surface with raised ridges or nubs which would increase the gripping function.

CONCLUSION

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A device to protect painted nails: A protective nail cover with a bubble enclosure with air holes in the enclosure where said enclosure has a opening where a finger tip can be placed.
 2. A device according to claim 1 including having the opening being comprised of squeezing to open a diaphragm the forms the opening.
 3. A device according to claim 1 where the enclosure is comprised of a dome.
 4. A device according to claim 1 where the dome surrounds the finger tip.
 5. A device according to claim 1 where the size of the cover is based on the size of the finger tip.
 6. A device according to claim 1 where the opening will have padding around it.
 7. A device according to claim 1 where one side of the cover has a gripping substance on it.
 8. A device according to claim 1 where one side of the cover has a gripping surface on it.
 9. A device according to claim 1 where one side of the cover has a gripping substance on it.
 10. A device according to claim 3 where the dome completely surrounds the finger tip without any part of the finger tip touching the dome.
 11. A method to protect painted nails: using a protective nail cover with a bubble enclosure with air holes in the enclosure where said enclosure has a opening; and placing a painted finger tip into the opening.
 12. A method according to claim 11 including having the opening being comprised of squeezing to open a diaphragm the forms the opening.
 13. A method according to claim 11 where the enclosure is comprised of a dome.
 14. A method according to claim 11 where the dome surrounds the finger tip.
 15. A method according to claim 11 where the size of the cover is based on the size of the finger tip.
 16. A method according to claim 11 where the opening will have padding around it.
 17. A method according to claim 11 where one side of the cover has a gripping substance on it.
 18. A method according to claim 11 where one side of the cover has a gripping surface on it.
 19. A method according to claim 11 where one side of the cover has a gripping substance on it.
 20. A method according to claim 13 where the dome completely surrounds the finger tip without any part of the finger tip touching the dome. 